In an interview with Al Jazeera, Senzo Mchunu says authorities do not know how many people are trapped in the disused goldmine in Stilfontein.
South Africa's police minister has pledged to rescue all the people still trapped in an abandoned goldmine in the northwestern town of Stilfontein "as soon as possible".
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Friday, Senzo Mchunu said the exact number of people underground is still not known.
The authorities have been stationed for weeks outside the abandoned pit in Stilfontein, about 150km (100 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, intermittently blocking locals from sending down food and water to try to force the miners out.
The operation has triggered outrage with some fearing that the men could be starving or even dying underground.
Police had earlier indicated that up to 4,000 miners may be trapped. On Thursday, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said they believe that number was exaggerated and gave an estimate of 350 to 400 miners.
Describing the conditions in the shaft, which the police have sought to check through camera surveillance, Mchunu said six to seven people who are at the top of the shaft are "commanding the whole thing".
